Protective clothing



Patented Oct. 15, 1946 PROTECTIVE CLOTHING Charles W. Leguillon and Carroll P. Krupp, Akron, Ohio, assignors to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., la corporation of New York Application September 22, 1942, Serial No. 459,266

1I) Claims.

This invention relates to protective clothing and especially to suits of water-tight construction substantially enclosing and protecting the wearers body against objectionable exposure, including flotation suits.

Under some conditions of shipwreck, sailors are forced to jump into the water and to endeavor to remain afloat until rescued. It is desirable to provide effective protection for the personnel against the weather and the water during such an emergency.

While the invention is useful especially in the construction of flotation suits for mariners, it is applicable in many of its features also to other forms of protective clothing such as sleeping bags, jackets, and wading suits for Sportsmen, fire ghters, suits, and other complete or partial body coverings.

Objects of the invention are to provide for clothing effectively protecting the wearers body against objectionable exposure, to provide effectively for water-tightness together with ease of donning and dofling the clothing, to provideconvenient access to the interior of the suit afloat, and to provide comfort to the wearer.

Further objects are to provide simplicity of construction, and to provide for convenience of manufacture, and convenience and effectiveness of operation.

Still further objects are to provide for admitting a portion of the wearers body into the clothing, and to provide for substantially sealing an opening therein against leakage.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a front view of a flotation suit including a headpiece constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, parts being broken away and in section, y

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the suit showing the margin of the neck opening in a closed and contracted condition, i

Fig. 3 is a view like Fig. 2 except that the suit is in a fully closed condition,

Fig. 4 is a rear View of the suit showing the pocket in an inflated condition, parts being broken away and in section,

Fig. 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of Fig` 1, and

Fig. 6 is a view on an enlarged scale taken along line 6--6 of Fig. 2.

In order to protect the wearer against objectionable and harmful exposure, it is desirable that Va flotation suit I0, such as is shown in Fig. 1, en-

close completely the wearers body, except for his face, in a'substantially water-tight manner. The suit Il) includes, accordingly, a headpiece II which is integral with an outer covering I2 for the body or torso and the limbs including the hands and feet.

Preferably, the head piece II having an opening for the'face fits snugly against the head of the wearer and is made of flexible material which may be stockinet fabric impregnated or coated with a suitable water-proofing substance such as Va rubber-like or other plastic material. A slackness IIa in the headpiece Il at the back of the neck in the region of joinder with a torso portion I3 is desirable to permit freedom of head movement. The headpiece Il is joined integrally with the torso portion I3 by sewing, or by a suitable adhesive such as rubber cement, or both.

The outer covering l2 is generally loosely fitting with considerable fullness in the torso portion I3, topermit the wearer to be fully clothed with auxiliary flotation means such as an inflatable vest or belt and to permit access to the interior of the suit by withdrawing the arms from sleeves 3l and 32. This covering is made of strong, flexible and substantially water-tight material and may be made of duck fabric having an impregnation or coating of rubber-like or other suitable plastic material.

For facilitating donning the suit I, there is provided a neck opening having marginal portions Ida and Ido and a divided front portion IEa and I5b in the outer covering IZ. The front portion I5@ and I5?) of the torso portion I 3 is split centrally and downwardly from the neck opening to approximately the crotch of a trouser portion I2a., and the margins Ia and Iib thereof are joined detachably by a slide fastener I1 or other suitable fastening means.

' It is desirable that the divided front portion I5a and I5b andthe neck opening be sealed in some suitable manner `so as toirender the suit l0 water-tight. To this end an extensible front portion I8 of flexible and substantially watertight material, which is lighter in weight and more exible than the outer covering I2, is secured to the inside of the margins I lia and `Ifib of the covering I2 along the lines I9 and 2t and to a margin 2i ofthe opening in the headpiece II by sewing, or a suitable adhesive like rubber cement, or both, as shown in Fig. .1.. The front portion I8 has considerable fullness, especially in the upper reaches thereof, whereby it may be extended outwardly thus defining a large opening for admitting the wearers body, and in the closed condition providing an ample air pocket for buoyancy. In the extended condition of the portion I8, which is continuous across its width between its attachments at I9 and 2a and, like a bag or pouch, has considerable fullness, may droop as shown in Fig. 1, but may be folded and drawn up to its closed position closer to the wearer as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

During closure of the divided front portion I5a and |517, the extensible portion I8 is disposed inside the outer covering I2 in a plurality of overlapping folds, bellows fashion. It also has substantial fullness in a portion 22 thereof adjacent the neck of the wearer and extending beyond the margins I4a and I4b of the outer covering I2, as shown in Fig. 3, to permit freedom of head movement.

It is desirable that a marginal portion 23 of the extensible front portion I8 defining the opening for admitting the wearers body be adapted for arrangement into a plurality of elements preferably a multiplicity thereof, in overlapping and closely contacting relationship, preferably in the form o-f plaits 25 or flat folds, in order to provide for substantially sealing against the neck, when so positioned, thus preventing the entrance of water into the suit ID.

We have found that this may be accomplished satisfactorily by utilizing a folded strip 24 or flattened tube of soft, iiexible and substantially water-ti-ght material, such as a closely woven, smoothly finished rayon fabric or fabric lightly impregnated with rubber or other suitable rnaterial, which is more flexible and is lighter in weight than` the material of the extensible front portion I8. The strip 24 is attached to the margins 2| and 23 of the headpiece Il and the extensible front I8, respectively, by sewing, as shown in Fig. 1, the strip 24 extending along the upper margin 23 of the front portion I8 continuously from one margin 2l of the headpiece to the other margin thereof and the strip 24 is of sufficient depth to permit the desired puckering or folding into a multiplicity of plaits 25 in order to present collectively a succession of the bent edges of the plaits stacked against one another and in edgeon relation to the wearers neck to obtain a substantially continuous sealing surface against a neck portion 33 of the wearer by virtue 0f the yieldability and closely contacting condition of the material, which puckering and contracting of the strip 24 to form a plurality of closely contacting plaits is effected by means of drawing the strip 24 along a draw-string 26 within the fold at the margin of the strip 24. Fig. 6 illustrates more in detail the sealing surface thus obtained. Owing to the softness of the material the plaits 25 lie close to each other and close to the skin of the wearer and it has been found that this action, especially in the fleshy region under the chin, provides a substantially water-tight seal without uncomfortable tautness of a drawstring 26.

The iiexible draw-string 26, for example a braided hemp or linen cord, is disposed within and in association with the folded strip 24, as shown especially in Figs, 1, 5 and 6, the ends of the string being attached to patches 21 secured in a Suitable manner as by sewing, to the upper reaches of and at each side of the helmet II adjacent the margin 2l. The draw-strin-g has a middle section in the form of a looped portion 26a having a sliding clamp 28, and it extends outwardly through an aperture in the exterior wall of the strip 24, the aperture being reinforced by a grommet 2B and a fabric patch 30. When the suit ID is in the closed condition, as shown in Fig. 3, the looped portion 26a of the drawstring 26 is disposed in the space between the extensible front portion I8 and the margins Ia and I6b of the divided front portion I5a and I5b.

In the operation of donning the suit Il, the wearer first places the divided front portion I5a and I5b in a fully opened condition by manipulating the slide fastener I'I downwardly thus disengaging the margins Ia and |619 whereby a V-shaped opening is formed, as shown in Fig. l, and extends the bellows-like extensible front portion I3 outwardly to its maximum fullness, including the marginal portions 23 and the folded strip 24. Then grasping the torso portion I3 in the region of the neck opening, the wearer inserts his body, feet first, through this opening largely defined by the front portion I8, and pulls the outer covering I2 up over his shoulders, thereafter inserting the arms into sleeve portions 3I and 32.

Next the headpiece II is pulled on over the head and the margin of the neck opening in the front portion I8 is contracted by grasping the looped portion 26a of the draw-string 26 and sliding the clamp 28 upwardly until the folded strip 24 is positioned in a plurality of overlapping and closely contacting plaits 25 against the neck. This contraction of the strip 24 permits arranging the extensible front portion I8 in loosely overlapping folds extending downwardly in the space defined by the margins IEa and IEb of the divided front portion I5a and |51). In fact, owing to the ability of the draw-string 26 to hold the front portion of the suit in, the margins Ia, |61; need not be brought together or attached except for added protection and neatness.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, the draw-string 26 being under tension presses the plaits 25 inwardly against the eshy part of the neck adjacent and below the jawbone, and also it pulls downwardly upon the patches 2l causing the margin 2l of the headpiece II to fit snugly against the forehead and the cheeks, all of which is accomplished without discomfort to the wearer. By virtue of the inward pressure of the string 26, the plaits 25, being of soft, yieldable material, are bent into an overlapping and contacting relation to one another thus providing a substantially continuous sealing surface contiguous with the neck, and since they are also in a closely contacting condition throughout their width, a substantially fluid-tight seal of the neck opening is obtained.

After positioning the looped portion 26a of the string 26 adjacent the outside of the extensible front portion I8, the margins Ia and I6b of the outer covering I2 are joined together by engaging the slide fastener I1. The fullness of the front portion I8 permits a bulge in that part extending above the margins I4a and |41?, as shown in Fig. 3, which assists in protecting the plaited strip 24 against water spray. The flotation suit I 0 is thus placed in a closed condition.

The wearer may squat to expel excessive air from the suit prior to jumping into the water, and by jumping feet first with the arms close to the sides or brought together over the head he may jump from considerable height without undue concussion and without taking water into the suit. In an emergency, the closure of the divided front portion I5@ and I5b by operating the slide fastener may be dispensed with WithoutV appreciably altering the water-tightness of the suit'. v

For maintaining the wearer in an upright position in the water when he is equipped with auxiliary notation means such as an inflatable vest or belt, the feet of the suit l0 may be weighted, if desired. The headpiece il and the hands of the suitv may be of a distinctive color, such as yellow, for ready identification of the wearer.

Thel flotation suit l0 may, if desired, be provided with an integral flotation means such as an inflatable pocket or air bag 34. A wall portiony 34a is made of flexible material and may be made of a woven fabric impregnated or coated with a suitable water-proof substance such as a rubber-like or other plastic material. v The wall 34a is secured` to the outer covering I2 by sewing, or` an adhesive such as rubber cement, or both.

Preferably, the air bag 3:4 is disposed adjacent the shoulders upon the torso portion I3 in the manner shown in Fig. 1 to. provide for a center of buoyancy of the suit IVD whi-ch permits eliminating the need for the expedient of weighting the feet. A suitable valve 35 and tube 35 enable the pocket or air bag. 34 to be conveniently inflated either before or after the wearer jumps into the water.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined in the following claims.

We claim:

l. A flotation suit including an integral headpiece and torsoportion having flexible walls of substantially water-tight material and including separable outside portions at the front thereof, said torso portion having an extensible front portion within said outside portions in the. region of said headpiece and an opening inthe region of the neck for admitting the wearers body, said suit at the opening comprising amargin of substantially water-tight material relatively soft and flexible as compared to said material of the torso portion and puckerable into a multiplicity of overlapping and contacting flat folds and the bent edges of the folds being collectively positionable in edge-on relation against the wearers neck for presenting a substantially continuous sealing surface across the flat, folds by virtue of the yieldability and closely folded condition of said relatively soft and flexible material, a drawstring disposed in said margin and secured to each side of the headpiece at the ear region thereof for thus puckering and positioning the latter, and means for detachably securing together said outside portions of the suit in a manner to enclose said exensible portion in a contracted condition.

2. A flotation suit including an integral headpiece and torso portion having flexible walls of vsubstantially water-tight material and includsubstantially water-tight material and includingrv separable outside portions ofthe front thereof, said torso portion having an extensible front portion within said outside portions in the region of saidY headpiece, said suit having an opening therein defined inV part by saidextensible front portion and in part by said headpiece for admitting the wearers body, the extensible portion of said torso portion at the opening comprising a margin of soft, flexible and substantially water-tight material contractible into a plurality of overlapping plaits, the plaits being in contact substantially throughout their width andbeing positionable against the wearers neck to present a substantially continuous sealing surface across the` plaits by virtue of the yieldability and closely plaited condition of said material-Q` a draw-string disposed in said margin for thus contracting and positioning said margin, said draw-string being detachably secured to each side of the headpiece at the upper front reaches thereof ina manner to draw said plaits against the neck and to draw the headpiece down upon the head, and slide fastener means extending along said outside portions for bringing together said outside portions of the suit in a manner to enclose said extensible portion in a contracted condition,

4. A flotation suit including a headpiece open at the face thereof and a, torso portion of substantially VWater-tight flexible material and having an opening defined by said headpiece and said torsofportion for admitting the wearers body, the headpiece comprising a neck covering open at the front providing continuity of open front in said torso portion, neck covering and headpiece and having fullness at the back for freedom of movement of the wearers head, said suit at the opening comprising a margin across and terminating at the forward margins of the open front of said neck covering, said margin comprising a multiplicity of substantially flat elements of a substantially water-tight material (relatively soft and flexible as compared to the material of the torso portion and adapted to lie in overlapping relationship and in extensive contact, one with another, the edges of said elements being collectively positionable against one another in edge-on relation to the wearers neck beneath the lower jaw to present a substantially continuous sealing surface across the edges of the elements at the neck of the wearer, and means in association with said elements for thus positioning said margin in the overlapping and contacting relationship of said elements.

5. A protective suit comprising a body covering including a portion of relatively heavy flexible material and a second portion of lighter and more flexible material than that of the first said por- -tion and said covering having an opening therein defined by the first and second said portions for admitting the wearer, said second portion being of substantial fullness to facilitate entry of the wearer, the margin of the opening at said second portion comprising a third portion of material of still greater flexibility as compared to that of the material of the first and second said portions, and means in association with said margin for holding the margin against the wearer and for gathering said second portion and said third portion in against the wearer.

6. A protective suit comprising a headpiece, a torso portion having flexible walls, said suit having an opening therein defined in part by said torso portion and in part by said headpiece for admitting the wearer, the margin of said torso portion at the opening comprising soft flexible material adapted by virtue of its softness and exibility to be pressed against the wearers neck to present a substantially continuous sealing surface along said margin conforming to the neck, and means extending along said margin for thus pressing said material against the wearers neck, said means being disposed at each side of the headpiece and being secured thereto in a manner such that under the action of said means said material will be drawn against the neck upward toward the head and the headpiece will be drawn upon the head downward toward the neck.

'7. A protective suit comprising a headpiece, a torso portion having flexible walls, said suit having an opening therein dened in part by said torso portion and in part by said headpiece for admitting the wearer, the margin of said torso portion at the opening comprising soft flexible material contractible to present a substantially continuous sealing surface along said margin conforming to the neck, and means extending along said margin for drawing said material against the wearers neck immediately beneath the jaw and along the same, said means being disposed at each side of the headpiece and being secured thereto in a manner such that under the action of said means said material will be drawn against the neck upward toward the head and the headpiece will be drawn upon the head downward toward the `law.

8. A protective suit comprising a headpiece, a torso portion having flexible walls, said suit having an opening therein defined in part by said torso portion and in part by said headpiece for admitting the wearer, the margin of said torso portion at the opening comprising soft flexible sheet material contractible in a multiplicity of close folds to present a substantially continuous sealing surface along said margin conforming to the neck by virtue of the yieldability and closely folded condition of said material, and means extending along said margin for thus contracting said material against the wearers neck immediately beneath the jaw and along Ythe same, said means being disposed at each side of the headpiece and being secured thereto in a manner such that under the contraction by said means said material will be drawn against the neck upward toward the head and the headpiece will be drawn upon the head downward toward the jaw.

9. A notation suit comprising a headpiece having an open face, a torso portion having exible walls of substantially water-tight material, said suit having a front opening therein dened in part by said torso portion and in part by said headpiece for admitting the wearer, said opening providing a continuously open front through the torso portion, the neck region and the face of the headpiece, the margin of said torso portion at said opening comprising soft flexible sheet material contractible in a multiplicity of close folds to present a substantally continuous sealing surface along said margin conforming to the neck by virtue of the yieldability and closely folded condition of said sheet material, and means including a draw-string extending along said margin for thus contracting said sheet material against the wearers neck immediately beneath the jaw and along the same, said draw-string being secured to each side of the headpiece in a manner such that under the contraction by said means said sheet material will be drawn against the neck upward toward the head andthe headpiece will be drawn upon the head downward toward the jaw.

10. A protective suit including an integral headpiece and torso portion and having an open face in the headpiece and a front opening dened by the headpiece and the torso portion and including the open face of the headpiece for admitting the wearer, said opening providing a continuously open front through the torso portion, the neck region and the face of the headpiece, the margin of the torso portion at said opening comprising soft flexible material across and terminating at the forward margins of the open face of said headpiece and puckerable into a multiplicity of substantiallyr flat folds in overlapping relationship, said folds being in contact with one another substantially throughout their width and collectively presenting a succession of bent edges positionable in edge-on relation to the neck of the wearer to present a substantially continuous sealing surface across said bent edges of the folds by virtue of the yieldability and closely folded condition of said material, and means in association with said folds for thus positioning and puckering the margin.

CHARLES W. LEGUILLON. CARROLL P. ICRUPP. 

